Government says, ‘Carbon levy rebates benefit millions of Albertans’

Minister Hoffman sits with an Edmonton family to talk about the carbon levy rebate.

Alberta families began receiving rebates today, helping them adjust to the new carbon levy and reduce their carbon footprint. In 2017, 60 per cent of households are expected to receive a full rebate to help offset the costs of the carbon levy:

A single adult earning up to $47,500 per year will receive a rebate of $200.

A couple earning up to $95,000 per year will receive $300.

Parents that qualify for the rebate will receive up to an additional $30 per child (to a maximum of four).

Rebates will increase in 2018, along with the carbon levy, to $300 for singles, $450 for couples, and $45 per child.

You do not have to apply to receive the rebate, but you must file your 2015 and subsequent income tax returns to be eligible.

The rebate is non-taxable and also refundable, meaning you will receive it even if you pay no provincial income taxes.

Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman met with an Edmonton family that received a rebate under the program recently where she stated, “The carbon price is a made-in-Alberta solution that protects pocketbooks with rebates for 66 per cent of Albertans to help our most vulnerable and ensures that we get pipelines built. We are committed to providing Albertans with the support they need to use energy more efficiently and save money.”

The rebate program helps lower- and middle-income families adjust to the additional costs of carbon. Families will also be able to take advantage of energy-efficiency programs that will start as early as spring 2017.

The carbon levy rebate is expected to recycle $95 million back to Alberta households in 2016-17 and $435 million in 2017-18.

WHAT THE WILDROSE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION SHADOW OPPOSITION MINISTER SAID:

The NDP’s risky carbon tax is now in effect – and the cost of everything is going up.

The price of gas is now 4.5 cents per litre more expensive. Diesel is now 5.4 cents per litre more expensive. Natural gas prices will increase between 30 to 40 per cent. Gas taxes have gone up nearly 100 percent since the last election.

When fully implemented, the NDP and Trudeau carbon tax will cost the typical household $2,500 per year. Alberta is already the most expensive government in Canada, but this carbon tax creates new expensive bureaucracies to hand out billions in green slush funds.

Wildrose is the only party that has stood up and said we’ll repeal the NDP’s carbon tax immediately after being elected government in 2019. We’ll also take the steps necessary to fight Trudeau’s federal carbon tax.

Any carbon tax will not only increase costs for families and those doing business in Alberta but gut Canada’s ability to compete globally, especially since our top competitor, the United states, will not be imposing one.

Carbon taxes will make life even more challenging for small businesses, charities, municipalities and school boards. Carbon taxation will reduce the level of services, choice and competition. With companies already citing the carbon tax as the reason for increased prices, some business will be forced to close.

Given these tough economic times when Albertans could use a break, the NDP has made everything more expensive.

The vast majority of Albertans do not support a job killing carbon tax, no matter the millions of taxpayer dollars the NDP waste on ads promoting it or how many ministers the NDP sends out to spin this tax.

The NDP want the Wildrose to “put down our swords” in our opposition to the carbon tax. The vast majority of Albertans who oppose the NDP’s job killing carbon tax would rather the NDP stop the higher taxes that are raising the cost of everything. If the NDP want us to stop fighting for Albertans against their carbon tax, it’s not going to happen.

Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said we need the carbon tax because Albertans were tired of being “laggards.”

Albertans are sick and tired of being talked down to by the NDP. Our oil and gas industry continues to be the best in the world and is the pride of many everyday, hardworking Albertans.

When asked in a news conference about how the carbon tax will impact Albertans, Premier Notley said when gas prices go up because of the tax, taking the bus or walking are other options.

You and I both know that simply isn’t an option for many families going about their daily lives, trying to make a decent living. Especially those with lengthy commutes.

The fact is, walking or taking the bus to get groceries just isn’t an option for those of us in rural Alberta, neither is turning off the heat. This carbon tax is nothing but a tax grab from hardworking people who deserve a break.

Our economy is struggling. Over 100,000 Albertans have lost their jobs and the NDP’s solution has been to add another tax onto hardworking families in our province.

We stand with the hardworking Albertans across the province, and 27 months from now a Wildrose government will repeal the carbon tax if elected.

Drew Barnes is the Wildrose Shadow Energy Minister and MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat

Questions about the rebate may be directed to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), as CRA is administering the program on the province’s behalf: 1-800-959-2809.